Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Sha’bi (may Allah have mercy on him) says that Ziyad said: The Commander of the Faithful did not surpass me in any aspect of governance except in one matter. I appointed a man as the governor of a region, and he reduced its revenue. Fearing my reproach, he fled to the Commander of the Faithful. I wrote to him that this action was contrary to the practice of the earlier people. He wrote back to me: It is not appropriate for you and me to treat people with the same policy. If we are lenient with everyone, then all will fall into sin, and if we are harsh with everyone, then it will be leading people on the path of destruction. The correct way is that you are suitable for firmness, severity, and strictness, and I am suitable for gentleness, love, and mercy.